Can Hypnosis be Dangerous?

Because hypnosis deals with the subconscious mind but remains a misunderstood legitimate therapy for overcoming bad habits some people view it as dangerous.

While professionals who practice hypnosis and clients who have undergone a hypnotic session can attest to the safety of hypnosis for those uneducated in the therapy it’s easy to see why there may be some concern.

The mere thought of “somebody in their head mucking about with it” can even get M.D. educated professionals riding the bandwagon.

The fact is hypnosis used for helping people to stop smoking or lose weight only requires light hypnosis and not the deep hypnosis or regression hypnosis that deals with more troubling issues in a person’s past.

Hypnosis to tackle smoking cessation is akin to the same daydream level you obtain when you get absorbed in a TV program and lose track of time or don’t hear the phone ringing, or when you drive somewhere and don’t remember how you got there. You’ve been in a hypnotic trance but not realized it. It’s a common occurrence and not dangerous – except the driving example feels dangerous if it impacts our reaction time.

Hypnosis Poses No Danger:

So based on our experience and all the evidence out there, hypnosis poses no danger.

It’s also believed by those unfamiliar with hypnosis that they’ll go into a hypnotic state and never return to a conscious state of being. This does not happen. In fact most of us enter a semi hypnotic state at different times throughout the day on our own but aren’t aware this is what we are doing – again the most common example of this is daydreaming.

Hypnosis is not a dangerous procedure to undergo but in extremely rare instances its been reported clients can develop headaches as a result of being in the hypnotic state. I’ve never experienced this with any of my clients in the years of my practice.

The fact is studies have proven the risks associated with attending a hypnosis session are equivalent to the risks of attending a lecture at a university (Lynn, Myer and Mackillop, 2000). And if you can think back to your college days how often did you get a headache from attending a lecture? And if you did that had more to do with a boring professor or subject, than your mind.

Physicians and psychologists alike don’t see any dangers connected to the practice of hypnosis. They believe however there’s danger in ignoring the benefits of it. Dr. David Cheek, M.D. believes, “We can do more harm with ignorance of hypnotism than we could ever do by using hypnosis and suggestion constructively.”

A highly regarded authority in the field of mind science, Andre W. Weitzenhoffer, Ph.D. writes, “As far as it is known today, hypnosis per se is no more dangerous than natural sleep. There is no evidence that hypnosis in itself weakens the will, damages the nervous system or in any way adversely affects the physical or mental well being of individuals.”

Another concern with hypnosis people have formed – mostly because of movies and stage hypnosis jibberish – is mind control.

The fact is you’re always in control of your mind during hypnosis. No certified therapeutic hypnotist can or will try to make you do what you don’t want to do. The things you see in stage shows or Hollywood movies are for entertainment value and do not depict or reflect the work of a qualified hypnotherapist.

There is no mind control:

Therapeutic hypnosis is aimed at helping you overcome a habit or issue in your life such as quitting smoking, losing weight or dealing with a phobia. The truth is while in hypnosis you’ll experience a sense of peace and calm in your body and mind both during and after the session has completed.

Many people enjoy the feeling of being tremendously relaxed in a hypnosis session and look forward to repeating it again and again!

Hypnosis is an alternative practice that works for the betterment of life and can promote growth and empowerment for those who seek it out.

If you’re considering hypnosis to help with a current challenge you have then I offer private hypnosis services in Boston at my Massachusetts location. You can find out more information using the contact details below.

Erika Slater, CH
Director
Free At Last Hypnosis
http://www.freeatlasthypnosis.com
http://www.smoke-free-at-last.com